Hunter 216 and its VERA rudder

[Abernathy]

So I have given alot of thought to the fact that when I took my daughter (9) out sailing in light winds, I could barely step forward to the cabin without the boat wondering all over the place. If it falls off course just a little the leading edge catches the flow, and continues to swing the foil. Currently, you can not leave it unattended. In principle I think Hunter got it right with this rudder for a trailer sailor. Simple, clears out the transom for swimmers, and creates lots of space in the cockpit. In practice I think it might be a little to neutral.

Looking online, I have found multiple websites that state no more than 20% of the foil should be in front of the pivot point.

I don't want to build or construct an entirely new rudder, that is cost prohibitive right now. I am thinking of figuring out how to cant the rudder back more. If the tip is farther back I hope to reduce its tendency to swing of course.

Have any Hunter 216 sailors or other boats addressed a problem like this?

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/axlesailing/

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

It would be extremely difficult to build a new rudder to insert into the swivel rudder cage. Any curvature in a new rudder would also be difficult to get it down thru the rudder housing. I do not know of anyone who has done what you are proposing.

If not mistaken, the forestay is fixed without any turnbuckle. THis is the first issue of little or no weather helm I heard of. Therefore, a little more tension on the shrouds might help if tensioned loosely.

At one point, I was able to sail this boat with sail trim only while tacking. I would suggest leaving well enough alone.

crazy dave

 

[Jackdaw]

It sounds like you are thinking that the VARA rudder, being 'over-balanced' is causing your boat to wander. I don't think that is the case.

Having a ballanced blade (meaning a portion of the rudder is in front of the pivot) is done as you know to help the tiller effort. But the water canot tell this is the case. It looks the same to the waterflow.

Now if your issue is that the rudder turns on its own easier because of the VARA, I'd just get a tiller tamer.

Nice view of the VARA

 

[Abernathy]

Guys,

guess I wasn't clear enough in my explanation of what is going on. As an example while motoring along: most boats, because the tiller rotates about the leading edge will 'fall' into the flow of the water as the motor pushes the boat along; on my VERA rudder boat in the same example, the tiller will flow along, but if the leading edge wanders even a bit off from the flow, it whips the tiller in one direction or the other. The boat then drastically moves in a different direction. The same thing happens while under sail. It isn't really a problem of weather or lee helm. It is a function of rudder not wanting to stay put. I will try the helm tamer idea. However, I have never had a boat with a rudder that was both so sensitive and light to the touch (a nice thing when racing), but so apt cause the boats heading to swing about. I will swing by a WestMarine this week to pick up a tamer.

I have sailed Lasers, Hobbies, TelStars, B-teaus, RC, ODays through the years; and now this Hunter. It was a gift, and a otherwise what appears to be a fantastic little boat.

This rudder just feels drastically different. I am finding a hard time getting feedback from the rudder, which I know is a big deal while trying to learn. I plan to use this boat to teach all three of my kids to sail.